Backpack Yosemite (OATS)

This Yosemite trip is an OATS favorite destination. We’ll be headed to this spectacular national park for 6 days, but will avoid the crowds and sight of vehicles by basing ourselves out of Hetch Hetchy. This northern section of the park provides us with the amazing scenery, miles of remote trails and plenty of lakes, mountains and meadows to explore. This trip is great for you whether you’ve never been to Yosemite or whether you grew up visiting the valley each year as a child.

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Day 1: Meet your group at 2:00pm on campus, group introductions, gear check, drive to Yosemite and stay at a trailhead campsite, learn basic camping skills

Day 2: Take down camp and head into the backcountry. Explore area lakes and trails while learning leave-no-trace skills. Choose backcountry campground for the evening, and practice backcountry cooking.

Day 3 – 5: Take down camp and continue backcountry hiking, Enjoy the lighter packs with less food in them while exploring remote trails, Choose a new backcountry campground for each evening.

Day 6: Take down camp, hike out to trailhead, pack up gear into vans, return to Berkeley in the afternoon, return group gear. wrap up by 5:00pm

There’s no problem if this is your first time hiking and camping, as long as you know what you’re getting into. Students will be required to carry packs of up to 1/3 of your body weight of personal and group gear while hiking at a moderate pace. Daily hikes will range from 4-8 miles on backcountry trails and include regular breaks to check in with each group member. This trip will be a little more strenuous than the Point Reyes OATS trip due to the topography of Yosemite National Park however it is still suitable for first time backpackers.

hacky-sack, playing cards, notebook/pen, camera (be aware, digital cameras do not handle water and sand well. If you would like to bring a camera, waterproof disposable cameras are the best for a trip like this)

Separate small duffel labeled with your name and safely stored on campus until your return.

Should you prefer to fill out a paper application you can download a Registration Form, complete it and return it to the Rec Sports Customer Service Center at the Recreational Sports Facility, 2301 Bancroft Way, Berkeley, CA 94720-4420 or fax it to (510) 642.8343.